3 days agoToronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Brandon Barriera (elbow), who has been dealing with an elbow injury, has undergone a combination of Tommy John surgery and an internal-brace procedure on his throwing elbow. Barriera was the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 draft and is the Blue Jays' No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 20-year-old has only thrown 21 2/3 innings in his professional career and was currently in Single-A at the time of his injury. Barriera has potential in the long-term but can be avoided in all fantasy formats for now.Source: MLB Pipeline
3 days agoDenver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray shook off a calf injury to produce a game-winning performance in Monday's Game 5 against the Lakers. He led all scorers with 32 points, wrapping things up with a jumper four seconds from the end to make it 108-106 and win Denver the game and series. Murray shot 13-for-28 from the field and 5-for-10 from downtown en route to his highest-scoring performance of the series. He also contributed on the offensive end with seven assists and recorded three rebounds and one steal. Despite dealing with a calf strain, Murray logged 41 minutes of action. He will now get some much-needed rest, with the Nuggets' second-round series against Minnesota not starting until Saturday. Denver's star guard is averaging 23.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in the postseason.Source: ESPN
3 days agoSeattle Mariners catcher/designated hitter Mitch Garver played the hero in Monday's 2-1 win over the Braves. Garver went 1-for-3 with a walk-off, two-run home run, a walk, and two strikeouts. It was a nice moment, but the 33-year-old has struggled offensively with his new team, slashing .150/.266/.313 with three HR and seven RBI in 94 plate appearances. Garver has been a reliable source of power throughout his fantasy career, so hopefully this can help get him going.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried continued to impress in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Mariners. Coming off a complete-game shutout, Fried pitched six no-hit innings, allowing two walks and seven strikeouts. The 30-year-old got off to an extremely rough start to the season but is now 2-0 with a 4.02 ERA, a 7.18 K/9 rate, and a 3.16 BB/9 rate in six starts and 31 1/3 IP. He will be tested in his next projected start at the Dodgers. While it is a tough matchup, Fried's recent success may convince fantasy managers to roll with him.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young continued to showcase his speed in Monday's 7-2 win over the Marlins. Young went 1-for-4 with a single and two stolen bases. The 24-year-old is now slashing .328/.368/.391 with no home runs, 16 runs scored, seven RBI, and 12 stolen bases in 70 plate appearances. He may not provide much power, but Young's speed makes him worth a look in deeper roto leagues.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoIt wasn't pretty, but Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jason Adam picked up his first save of the season in Monday's 1-0 win over the Brewers. Adam came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by one. He allowed a leadoff double, got the first out on a line-out, allowed a walk, allowed a double steal, got the second out on a past-ball strikeout where the runners were held due to batter's interference, hit a batter to load the bases, and finally ended things with a strikeout. The 32-year-old racked up 12 saves last season when Pete Fairbanks (hand) was on the injured list, and Fairbanks is now serving a stint with a hand injury. Given his history serving as interim closer, Adam is worth rostering in at least all roto leagues at this time.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoNew York Mets shortstop prospect Luisangel Acuna hit his second home run of the season on Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse. The 22-year-old went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored in Game 2 of a doubleheader, while the home run was his first since the first game of the season. Not known as much for his power as his older brother, he does still have some wheels, swiping 57 bags last season, and is up to eight so far in 2024. MLB's 59th-ranked prospect overall is inching closer to the bigs, but with Francisco Lindor blocking him at short it's uncertain where he would fit in. Managers in need of steals will need to be ready once he earns the promotion.Source: MiLB.com
3 days agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot continued to string together strong starts in Monday's 1-0 win over the Brewers. Pepiot pitched six innings, allowing just two hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. The 26-year-old has looked good in his first starts with his new team, going 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA, a 9.87 K/9 rate, and a 2.60 BB/9 rate in six starts and 34 2/3 IP. He will look to keep things going in his next projected start against the middling Mets.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoToronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Nate Pearson managed to secure his first save of the season in Monday's 6-5 win over the Royals. Pearson came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by one. He allowed a leadoff single, got the first two outs on a groundout and a line-out, allowed another single, and stranded the tying run at third with a strikeout. Closer Jordan Romano had pitched in each of the last two days, so Pearson was called upon. The former prospect has a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings of work this season, but his fantasy value will remain limited until he can routinely earn high-leverage situations.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoToronto Blue Jays first baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner did his part in Monday's 6-5 win over the Royals. Turner went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, a solo HR, and a strikeout. The 39-year-old veteran has continued to provide fantasy value late into his career and is now slashing .311/.390/.533 with four HR and 15 RBI in 105 plate appearances. He should continue to be a reliable source of batting average with some pop.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoMilwaukee Brewers first baseman prospect Tyler Black keeps making the push for a promotion to the big league club, smacking two solo home runs on Sunday for Triple-A Nashville. The 23-year-old is now slashing .303/.393/.525 on the season and has shown some power (five HR), some speed (three SB), and patience (11:12 BB:K). The lefty hit 18 home runs and stole 55 bases last season in 123 games between Double-A and Triple-A, and if he does get the call, he could instantly provide a boost to the Brewers as well as fantasy lineups.Source: MiLB.com
3 days agoThe Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are among the list of teams that have shown interest in free agent safety Jamal Adams, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. The Seahawks released Adams earlier in the offseason, but general manager John Schneider didn't rule out the possibility of re-signing him. Now, Condotta notes that Seattle has "legitimate" interest, though they'll have to compete with the Niners and other teams. The three-time Pro Bowler has struggled to stay healthy lately, playing in just 10 games over his last two seasons and registering 51 tackles during that span.Source: Bob Condotta
3 days agoWashington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams showcased his power and speed in Monday's 7-2 win over the Marlins. Abrams went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, two walks, and a stolen base. The 23-year-old has traded some of his speed for power to this point but is slashing a solid .297/.377/.634 with seven HR, 17 RBI, and six stolen bases in 115 plate appearances. He has provided plenty of fantasy value, even if it hasn't been exactly as fantasy managers expected.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoBaltimore Orioles relief pitcher Danny Coulombe picked up his first save of the season in Monday's 2-0 win over the Yankees. Coulombe entered the game to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by two and turned in a 1-2-3 outing with no strikeouts. Closer Craig Kimbrel (back) is currently day-to-day with back tightness, so Coulombe was called upon to close things out. The 34-year-old has pitched well this season with a 3.18 ERA, an 11.12 K/9 rate, and a 1.59 BB/9 rate in 11 1/3 IP. His fantasy value will remain limited without seeing routine high-leverage situations, but he could provide value in saves-plus-holds leagues if he ends up getting interim save opportunities.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is seeking a deal similar to the one that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. received, according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Pittman fetched three years and $70 million on his latest deal, which would suggest that Higgins is looking for a three-year deal worth roughly $23 million on an annual basis. If so, there's a significant gap in negotiations between him and the Bengals, who have not offered more than $20 million annually, according to Conway. The former second-round receiver previously requested a trade, but as it stands, he's expected to remain in Cincinnati for the 2024 season. With Joe Burrow throwing him passes, Higgins ranks as a low-end WR2 in fantasy football.Source: Kelsey Conway
3 days agoBaltimore Orioles third baseman/shortstop Gunnar Henderson continued his power display in Monday's 2-0 win over the Yankees. Henderson went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a strikeout. He was also hit by a pitch. The 22-year-old is now tied for the league lead with 10 HR and owns a .289/.352/.632 slash line with 23 RBI and six stolen bases. He showed huge fantasy potential last season in terms of power and speed and has taken a step forward in average so far this season.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoBaltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cionel Perez (oblique) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Monday and pitched a scoreless inning in a 2-0 win over the Yankees. Perez had been dealing with a right oblique strain. Dillon Tate was optioned in a corresponding move. Perez has made just two appearances this season, allowing two runs over an inning plus of work. The 28-year-old has been a reliable later-inning arm for the O's over the past couple of seasons, making him worth a look in saves-plus-holds leagues.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoMiami Marlins outfield prospect Victor Mesa Jr. went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored on Sunday for Triple-A Jacksonville. The Marlins' top-ranked offensive prospect is having a great season for the Jumbo Shrimp, slashing .298/.362/.500 with four home runs, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored, and a 7:8 BB:K. Strikingly though, the 22-year-old has yet to record a stolen base thus far after swiping 16 bags last season. With the Marlins losers of seven straight and owners of the worst win percentage in all of baseball, it wouldn't be surprising to see Mesa Jr. get the call to the majors at some point this season. Jesus Sanchez and Nick Gordon haven't done much of note this season and Mesa Jr. is already on the 40-man roster.Source: MiLB.com
3 days agoCincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown remains the No. 2 option out of the backfield after the team opted not to select any competition in the NFL Draft. Cincinnati replaced Joe Mixon with Zack Moss last March, and while it seemed like they could upgrade their backfield in the draft, that wasn't the case. Instead, it appears Moss will be Cincinnati's primary running back, barring a surprise signing or trade. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic indicates that Moss has a leg up over Brown heading into the summer, including on third downs. This isn't necessarily a surprise given that Moss looked great in Indianapolis last year, but Brown also flashed promise as a rookie, totaling 335 yards and a touchdown. He enters the summer as Moss' backup but could push for more snaps with a strong camp.Source: Paul Dehner Jr.
3 days agoBoston Red Sox second baseman prospect Nick Yorke went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base on Sunday for Double-A Portland, extending his current hit streak to seven games. During the streak, the 22-year-old has gone 10-for-28 (.357) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored, and three stolen bases, raising his season average to a solid .284. He's coming off a season in which he hit .268 with 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 110 games at Double-A. The former first-round draft pick could see Fenway by the end of 2024, but offseason acquisition Vaughn Grissom is going to get a shot at being the everyday second baseman starting this week when he comes off the IL. Nevertheless, with the tools that Yorke has, he should be on dynasty managers' radar.Source: MiLB.com
3 days agoCarolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the plan in 2024 is to use all three of running backs Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and rookie second-rounder Jonathon Brooks (knee). The Panthers traded up in the second round to take Brooks. Because he's a rookie and is coming off ACL surgery, The Athletic's Joseph Person has put Brooks initially at third on the Panthers' running back depth chart. However, if he's healthy, he'll have a chance to surge up the depth chart in a hurry, and it's fair to wonder if Sanders will be marginalized with Brooks' arrival. The 26-year-old Sanders just didn't look good at all in 2023, getting a career-low 129 carries for 432 yards (3.3 yards per tote) and one touchdown. Sanders' fantasy stock is reaching rock bottom.Source: The Athletic - Joseph Person
3 days agoBoston Red Sox first baseman prospect Blaze Jordan went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored for Double-A Portland on Sunday, extending his current hit streak to nine games. After beginning the season 3-for-29 (.103) through eight games, the 21-year-old has gone 15-for-39 (.385) over his next nine games, including five multi-hit efforts in his last six. Jordan was a third-round draft pick in 2020 and is expected to reach the majors by 2025 per MLB.com. The right-handed hitter had 18 home runs in 2023 over 122 games between High-A and Double-A, but with his profile, that was a bit under expectation and he's got just two so far in 2024. As long as he keeps on hitting like this though, the home runs should come. Dynasty managers in need of power production should keep tabs on Jordan for signs that the home run stroke is continuing to develop.Source: MiLB.com
3 days agoThe Las Vegas Raiders didn't take a quarterback in this year's NFL draft, which means QBs Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell are set to compete for the starting job in training camp this summer. The Raiders were rumored to be angling to trade up in the first round of the draft for a franchise signal-caller, but instead they stayed put and took Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with their first-round selection. O'Connell held his own in 2023 when he was thrust into the starting role because of Jimmy Garoppolo's injuries and inconsistency, but Minshew should still be considered the favorite this fall given his experience. The 27-year-old Minshew would be a solid midrange QB2 in fantasy if he wins the starting job after making his first career Pro Bowl in 2023 with the Colts. He threw for a career-high 3,305 yards, 15 TDs and nine interceptions in 17 games (13 starts).Source: The Associated Press - Mark Anderson
3 days agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton could have a leg up on the No. 3 job in Cincy in 2024 behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins if he can acclimate quickly due to his size, explosivenessread more...
3 days agoThe Cincinnati Bengals mildly surprised by not taking a single running back in this year's NFL draft, which means Zack Moss is in line for lead-back duties in his first year in Cincy in 2024. Moss will be the prime candidate to assume the third-down role with his extensive experience pass-blocking (68 opportunities last year, 15th in the NFL), and holding up relatively well. Chase Brown will also be involved as a complement to Moss, but after the Bengals didn't add a single RB in the draft, Moss' fantasy arrow continues to point up heading into 2024 after he impressed in Jonathan Taylor's absence with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023. "No. 1, I think he'll be really good in the screen game because he's the kind of guy you get in space and has lateral quickness to make the first miss," offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said.Source: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
3 days agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said the news was "pretty good" on the MRI exam of outfielder Josh Lowe's injured right hamstring and that "we'll just kind of take it day-to-day." Lowe opened the 2024 regular season on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury and now is dealing with right-hamstring tightness that he felt during his minor-league rehab assignment. The 26-year-old doesn't appear to be dealing with a significant hamstring injury, but it remains to be seen when he'll come off the IL to make his season debut after he was initially expected to return to the Rays lineup over the weekend. It's been frustrating so far this year for Lowe's fantasy managers, but they need to remain patient and keep him stashed everywhere after he hit .292 (136-for-466) with 20 homers, 83 RBI and 32 steals in 135 games in his third MLB season in 2023.Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
3 days agoThe Tampa Bay Rays placed right-hander Chris Devenski (knee) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 26) on Monday with right-knee tendinitis and recalled left-hander Jacob Lopez from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Devenski will be eligible to return to the Rays bullpen on May 11. The former 25th-round pick of the Chicago White Sox in 2011 out of Cal State Fullerton has had a rough start to his first full season with the Rays, as he's allowed 17 runs (12 earned) on 19 hits while walking six and striking out 11 in 14 innings out of Tampa's bullpen. Devenski is not on the fantasy radar at all and could be designated for assignment once he's ready to come off the injured list in May.Source: Rays Communications
3 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino teased a no-hitter in Monday's 3-1 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs, spinning eight innings of one-run ball on one hit and two walks with five strikeouts. Chicago's offense offered little to no resistance up until the late stages of the game, but Dansby Swanson's bloop single in the eighth inning broke up the no-hit bid to spoil a masterful performance out of Severino. It still added to a great start to the campaign for the 30-year-old right-hander, however, who looks revived in the early stages of the year following a strong spring training and now owns a 2.31 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 31:11 K:BB through six regular-season starts (35 innings) for the Mets. Severino will take a ton of momentum into his next scheduled start on Saturday on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he'll remain worth deploying in all mixed fantasy leagues.Source: MLB.com
3 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he doesn't think outfielder Jason Heyward (back) has been cleared to start baseball activities yet. The expectation is that Heyward would be with the team on their road trip to Arizona this week to face the Diamondbacks, but he is not. Heyward recently was still feeling soreness in his back and apparently has yet to resume baseball activities. The 34-year-old left-handed hitter has been out since April 1 and will need a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment as soon as he begins ramping up his activities. It's made it difficult for fantasy managers to hang onto him in deeper leagues, especially as a platoon player in LA's outfield. Rookie Andy Pages has benefitted from Heyward's absence and entered Monday's game hitting .302 (13-for-43) with two home runs and five RBI in his first 11 MLB games.Source: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
3 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes looks to maintain his strong start to the 2024 season when he takes the ball for Tuesday's start on the road against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Although Cortes had a sluggish start in spring training, he's throwing for a rock-solid 3.50 ERA (3.71 FIP), 1.00 WHIP, and 32:5 K:BB over 36 innings (six starts) to begin the regular season. The 29-year-old left-hander now has to do battle with a high-powered offense, but in his last seven appearances versus the O's since 2021, Cortes is 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA and 59:11 K:BB across 41 2/3 frames. Baltimore's current roster is batting a career .180 (18-for-100) with just four extra-base hits against Cortes, who should be rostered in all fantasy leagues ahead of Monday night's waiver runs and makes for an interesting DFS tournament play on Tuesday in a difficult setup on paper.Source: Baseball Savant